The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-17
The CONSTITUTION.


the Potomac aud Chesapeake Bay,
and to make an arrangement regard
ing the trade relations between the
two States. The Legislature Of Vir.
einia passe d resou ion In favor OF
laying every matter Ieferriog to tariff
before all me States combined. This
led 10 further resolutions appointing
DOM missiooers % weet with such
commissioners ss might be appointed
BY the other States
"To examine the relative situation
and trade Of the United States; to
consider how far u uniform system in
their commercial relations may be
necessary TO their common interest
and their permanent harmony; and
to report to the several States such an
act, relative to this general object, IS
when unanimously ratified by them
will enable the United States In Con-
gress assembled TO provide for the
came"
Examining "the relative situation Of
the u aited States" resulted In found.
ing their Constitution
But q year was yet to elspse. In
Septsn Der, 1855, the resolutions hav-
ing been communica ted to the States,
a co I'VE 1tion Of commissioners met at
Annapolis. But only New York,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia
and Delaware w're represented. No
decision was arrived at, but a report
was drawn up which was to be laid
before the Legislatures of each State
and before Congress. Ia this report
II was reco nmended that commits.
sioners should be appointed from all
the States
ITO meet at Philadelphia on the
second Monday Of Nay, then next, to
take into ccnsid grafton the situation
Of the United States; to devise such
provisions as shall appear to them
necessary to render the Constitution
CT the Federal Government adeq rate
to the exigencies Of the union aud Ia
report such az act for that pu pose TO
the United States In Congress sssem
bled as, when agreed to by them and
atterwsrd confirmed by the Lsgisls.
ture OF every State, will efectually
provide for the same"
That Second Monday Of May" wa.
Nay IA, 1887.
FIR, LITTLE RHoDYl
The first important step after THU
was taken by the Legislature OF New
York, calling upon its members Of
Congress TO move resolution recon.
mending the several States to appoin,
deputies to q convention for the pur
pose Of revising the Federal Constitu'
ton. This resolution was passed In
Congress February 81, 1887. aud OF
the "sscond Monday OF May" OF tina
year the convention which drew Of
the Constitution Of the United S:atel
assembled In Philadelphia.
Twelve Of the thirteen States wer,
represented.
Rhode Island alone refused to sen,
delegates.
There are some who have denied /,
Independence Hall the honor Of hav
ing been the scene OF the drawing NJ
and signing Of that remarkable docu
melt which gave American citizen
what 10 o Lesser degree an got
Chsrta" had given 30 Their ancestors
A claim to the honor has bsen made
BY Osrpenters' Hall, but the journs
OF the Federal convention distinctly
states that the convention wss helt
Eat the state House," and Benjamin.
Franklin, who was one o. the dele
gatee, writes n bis sister that hi
health was much improved by BIZ
daily walks frt m the STATE House.
, The State House" OF q century az,
10 the "Indepeu snce Hall" Of today
Therefore II appears that Carpenters
Hall, or, more properly, the Hall o
the Carpentsrs' Company, must take
back seat.
THR'UsIos's FIRST sAvIoRs.
There 10 little 10 tell OF the proceed
ipgs OF the con sention-little beyont
the noble result. The meetings wer
he d with closed doors, as IL was ieare,
that attempts would be made from tn
. outside 10 exercise pressure agains
, certain me isures. Consequently tn
members were pledged TO secrecy, ant
30 we'll did they keep their word tina
even In their correspondence-that 4
: TO cay, such OF II ss has been preserved
10 the present day-oDly faint allu
| rlouh WtIo Auhuo W tLt mtetlukt
/, George Washington was 60 contcien
|, tious 10 this respect that, although hi
, diary contains daily entries OF what b.
did after he arrived In NJ " In Phila
delphis, from June IL when tn
, agreemsnt Of secrecy was first entere,
into, until September 18th, when tn
, constitution was signed, not an entr
! is made. The journals Of the conven
ton, which Congress allowed 10 b
published in 1920, give the only In
formation on the subj set, and that In
/. lorna lon is scanty.
And who were the men who formel
that Federal Convention7 Who W 81
, the men who made that great exper
. men, which, II IL has not succeeded
has Initiated success In q remaIkabl
, manner7
Those who signed the Constitution
were:
jain L,ngdon and Nicholas Gilman
| NJ NJ uamn.htxa